Not even one week yet...

We have been at the mission for 6 days and I am so happy to be here! We have been getting to know the ladies more and more and have been abundantly blessed! I know for a fact that God brought our family here. I have been praying that He help me to be more disciplined and help me to study His Word more and I have failed miserably on my own! But being here I have been able to wake up at 6 am with the girls and start memorizing Colossians with them. It has only been about 3 days total of this new routine, but I love it! I am getting so many things accomplished through out the day and I am actually spending time with the Lord without being exhausted. It is AMAZING!!!

Of course we have been having fun with the ladies as well...We have taught them Nertz!!! They LOVE it! We played Saturday night and then again Sunday afternoon. We have also shared our WOW 2006 music video DVD with them and they love that as well...there is one song that truly sings their past...Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith. Many of them have been brought to tears because of what the song says and who it speaks too. It is beautiful!! Well that is all I have for now but stay tuned for updates!! I love you guys!!

On a Mission...

Brant and I are now living in Odessa, TX. We have been given an amazing opportunity. Something truly from the Lord! We have started a new job working with Mission Messiah and their stores WOW! and ZIP. Brant is now in charge of putting WOW!'s catalog on line and I will be taking care of the photography aspect of all of their products. We are so stoked about this opportunity because not only is it exactly what we love to do job wise but it is also what we love to do ministry wise! We are being challenged to wake up every morning at 6 to start the day off in prayer and then spend time in the Word memorizing scripture. So far we have been struggling with the 6 a.m. start, but it is an amazing time with the Women and God!! The Mission Messiah helps women get back on their feet after struggling with different things in their life. It helps them to be more disciplined, helps teach them to be better moms for their children and most of all it helps them dedicate their lives to Christ and trust in their Heavenly Father! I absolutely love it!!! We have only been here for a few days, but I have seen God! He is truly transforming these women and He is being glorified! I also know that satan is hurting! He tries so hard but fails so miserably with these women!!!! I cannot tell you how beautiful a sight like that is. Anyway, Odessa is dry and dusty, but the Mission Messiah is a garden in the midst of a desert! If you think about us throughout your day please pray for us and the Mission!!! We love you and hope you have a day that Glorifies the One who blessed you with it!

Trials...

There are many times when you think "Life could not be better...everything is all coming together and I am pumped!" Then...when you least expect it a monkey throws poo! Well, not literally but it sure does seem like it smacks you in the face! The plans change unexpectedly and you are now forced to look to something different. Brant and I are at that point right now in our life and we don't really know which way to go or where to turn to next but UP. We know that the Lord has had some great plans for us...and we thought we were going that way, but it seems like we need to revamp and think again. We are currently praying for guidance and would greatly appreciate it if you would join us!! We are excited about what is ahead... just currently a little let down. But on a lighter note my brother (in-law) just proposed to a wonderful cutie and my son is really talented! He is the newest, youngest and cutest little drummer boy on the planet...but I am a little bias! I love you guys and hope you enjoy the pics!!

Going home...

After all the frill and thrill of the holidays it is only natural for you to pack things up and go home. It is not always an easy thing to do, but it is what happens. You have to return to work and go on with your "everydayness" that must happen in order to go home for future holidays.

Like most people the trip home is bittersweet... bitter because you are leaving the ones you love after having a great holiday, sweet because you are finally going back to what you have now named home and you get to see friends who have just finished the same type of trip.

Brant and I had an amazing holiday visit with our families (luckily our families live in the same town so we get to see both of sides of the family for Christmas!) We baked cookies, put puzzles together, went shopping and best of all....played with the Baby Cade!! He loves his grandparents and his uncles even though his uncle Eric messes up his hair. It was soo neat to watch him learn and grow while we were home. He got really neat gifts...one of which was a hand made wagon that says Greathouse Express on the side. He also got some really great CDs and DVDs and lots of toys. Brant and I also got some really great gifts the best of which I got to drive home on Sunday. Brant suprised me with a 2002 Buick Rendezvous (SUV)...which is so much easier to get Cade in and out of (unlike our 2 door Honda). I absolutely love it!! That was another reason our trip home was sweet! It was a great Christmas! The only one who didn't have a great christmas was Kinzie...poor pup, she didn't get a thing! But I guess that is the sacrifice she has to make in order for us to get an SUV.

Well I hope you have a great day! Enjoy the time you have with the people you love...some times it must come to an end before we want it too! I love you guys!

Mud Men...

A few years ago my family was on their way to church one December morning and as we were driving we passed a Mud man....I am talking about a 3 tier mud man. At this time in my life I thought it was the coolest thing in the world because I had never seen snow and I appreciated the creativity of those who made it! About a year after that I was off at ACU and understood the beauty of snow...I witnessed my first snowfall (that stayed on the ground) of my life. It snowed on Valentines day of Freshman year. I made a snow man for the first time...I also realized that underneath the snow there was not mud but rather more snow! It was awesome!

I love you guys so much I wanted you to share the joy of snow and Christmas with these two pictures...I hope you like them...both are of my favorite Santa in the world! Have a wonderful Christmas and let your family know they are loved!!

In with Relics...

I have been making some crafts so that I can stay at home with Baby Cade and one of those crafts is a wire cross with beads on it. I was encouraged to find a store that would buy them from me so I went to a local store called Relics. The boss thought they were super cute and decided to buy all 5 I had with me! I was so excited! I am praying they sell so that I can make and take her some more. I really want to be able to stay at home with Cade and this (along with photography) would be the greatest way for me to create an income while at home. Wish me luck! Have a great evening!!
Here's another picture of Cade, this time at 3 months old.

SO...there are many things in life that happen everyday for millions of people and one of them is happening to my family...We are in transition! Meaning...We are moving...We don't have a place secured yet, we are still waiting on the bank, but till then we are staying with an aunt. She is a blessing!
You know...many people are huge blessings...such as our best of friends the Wright's and the Giles family. They helped us pack up our entire house and watch our little baby until the very end! THEN, after all of that work, they cooked up an amazing dinner with steaks and burgers and hotdogs. Amazing! The greatest of friends are there all the time even in your roughest of times. They are like your family they never give up on you and they will love you and never stop living life with you! I love you guys!! Thank you so much!